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Bombs Away!!!
Unleashing a Weapons-Grade Dodge Ram into the Hemisfear
story & photos by Steve Temple
At first sight of Tommy Downey’s Dodge Ram, you might wonder why it displays a 3D-style graphic design that’s inspired by the P-51 Mustang. What does a WWII fighter aircraft have in common with an off-road rig? Actually, there’s more than meets the eye in terms of the similarities between these two vehicles.
To explain, we first need a bit of background. For those who aren’t regular viewers of the History Channel, the P-51 Mustang fighter plane was a truly remarkable aircraft that changed the nature of air battles over Europe in WWII. Before the advent of the P-51 Mustang, bombers on long-range missions into the heart of the Third Reich had to fly unescorted, resulting in heavy losses.
October of 1940 saw the first flights of the P-51’s predecessor, called the NA-73. Tests proved this new fighter to be quite remarkable, able to fly at high speeds because of its sturdy wing design and aerodynamic shape.
A test pilot from the RAF got the idea of replacing the original, naturally aspirated Allison engine with a supercharged Rolls-Royce Merlin. This new engine had more horsepower plus the supercharger necessary for high altitude flight. When this new aircraft, now called the P-51B Mustang, arrived in England, pilots discovered that they had a fighter aircraft with amazing capabilities. With as much as a 2600-mile range, the P-51 had the ability to accompany bombers on long range missions. On top of the added range, the P-51 was superior in performance to the Luftwaffe fighters, particularly in speed.
So what does this all have to do with the Dodge Ram? It not only pays tribute to the P-51 in its unique graphics from Ape Wraps, but also shares some other similarities. After all, it’s been hot rodded with a Hemi (hence the “Hemisfear” name on the hood), along with a K&N air filter and Magnaflow exhaust for better high-altitude respiration. Not only that, this Ram is armed with all sorts of off-road ammo suitable for long-range missions in dangerous territory.
Lest you think the stylish graphics aren’t suitable for an off-road rig that scrapes through the brush, it’s made of the toughest grade of Avery vinyl available, much stronger than the decorative stickers seen on those buzzing little sport compacts. In addition, it has a clear protective membrane on top, which also adds a glossy look to the finish.
By the way, the lovely lady depicted on the hood and doors is a digitized version of an original painting done by famed pinup-girl artist Anthony Guerra. Many P-51s had this sort of art treatment on the nose, which fighter pilots patted for good luck before heading down the runway and into battle. The remarkable detailing in the graphics, creating the illusion of rivets, exhaust pipes and machine guns, was beautifully crafted by Robert Burnett and Dean Noble of APE Wraps.
How about the off-road armaments? Explorer Pro Comp first gave this off-road fighter a six-inch climb in altitude. With this increased elevation in the suspension, there was room set of Pro Comp’s XTerrain tires mounted on Extreme Alloys rims. A set of bulletproof Bushwacker wheelwell flares keeps the mud and stones off the body graphics. These flares and Bushwacker’s bed caps serve as dark accents to the dove gray color scheme. They also match the painted black trim on the nose, which is finished with a menacing red custom mesh from Grillcraft Sport Grills. PreRunner front and rear bumpers with Pro Comp supplying a set of accessory lights as well.
Once you arrive at your target area, launch ramps from Mototow.com can deploy a pair of off-road race bikes. These WR450F and WR426F Yamaha motorcycles aren’t merely for show, either. One is used as a competition trainer, and the other was ridden by the truck’s owner in the Vegas to Reno “Best in the Desert” race at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
To keep the pilot of this rig comfortable on long trips, the interior is dressed with Katzkin custom upholstery, and the cargo area lined with a cushioned liner.
While this Dodge Ram won’t be doing any actual combat, it does pay homage to one of the best-performing piston-powered planes of all time. Many veterans returning home after WWII drew inspiration from the P-51 in building their blown hot rods. And today’s high-performance 4x4s can also pick up a few pointers from the hard-charging Mustangs that cleared the way for Allied bombers. Just don’t forget to pat the picture before you climb aboard.